“We’ve been over this ground.”
Syon turned away from the dressing-room mirror. “No, we haven’t, but we will, just as soon as I straighten things out with Kate.”
“What are you talking about?”
Syon brushed by Cid. His passion was riding high. Not that it was unusual, but tonight he needed to take it to Kate. He was being drawn to her and didn’t give a rat’s ass what anyone thought about it. He wasn’t going to think too deeply on the subject.
Just act.
* * *
“You missed the show.”
Syon didn’t knock, but it was his suite too. His shirt was open, giving her a glimpse of his six-pack.
“You’re not working this time.”
Kate jumped, dropping her phone. Her cheeks heated as Syon picked it up and spied the game of Angry Birds she’d been using to distract herself.
“Not sure how it’s your business.”
He was still wearing the pants she’d made him, and she couldn’t help but admire them. But that set off another little jolt of pain. She’d put her heart into those pants, and he was…well…a dick.
“We’ve already established that Cid is an asshole, Kate. Don’t let him get between us.”
She propped her hand on her hip. “Your words are the ones coming between us. You told me to google you to see if you’ve been kissing other girls, but what is that worth if Cid is just buying off the paparazzi?”
“Not everyone has a price.”
Kate scoffed at him, feeling hollow. “You knew I wouldn’t find any pictures when I went looking, so what you used to establish trust with me is bull.”
“I knew you wouldn’t, because I haven’t kissed anyone else, baby.”
“Don’t call me baby,” she said. “You don’t get to call me that.”
A hard glint entered his eyes. “Yes I do.”
She shook her head. “I don’t think so. Not when your road manager is buying up pictures you challenge me to find. I thought you were being sincere.”
“You know what I am.”
He was moving closer, cornering her. She wanted to stand her ground, but her belly was twisting, making her tremble, and she moved away from him.
“What do you mean by that?” She tried to hold on to her pride. That potent sexuality of his was hitting her with gale-force winds. But she hated herself for being affected now. Hated herself for not having more self-worth.
“You have to decide to trust me.” He was almost in arm’s reach, his jaw tight as he held her gaze. “I told you I haven’t kissed another woman in two years. Either my word is good enough, or the problem we have has nothing to do with Cid. It’s a trust issue. You told me Conan was jerking my chain.”
She shuddered. The look in his eyes cut straight through her. “Yeah. I did.”
He captured her wrist, closing his fingers around it and pulling her against him. “Are you asking me to blow off appearances because you don’t trust me?”
“No.” She hated the way it made her feel just to hear him say that.
He tilted his head to the side and fitted his mouth against hers. For a moment, he thrust every thought out of her mind, licking and kissing her until she opened her mouth, desperate for a deeper connection. His scent was filling her senses, his chest hard beneath her fingertips, and all she wanted was to sink down into the vortex of sensation he created.
“Not yet.”
He’d pulled away, holding her back when she would have followed him.
He spun her loose and pointed her toward the closet. “Get dressed.”
“For what?”
“I’ve got to work, and you have a point to make.” He nodded. “Something hot. To defend your turf.”
Understanding dawned on her. “You must have pissed Cid off by coming back here.”
“Happy?” There was a trace of bitterness in his tone that grated.
She shook her head. “I’m happy you’re here, not that you left before dealing with business.”
He didn’t believe her. He crossed his arms over his chest, retreating behind a hard expression.
She wasn’t taking it.
“Trust is a two-way street, Syon,” she said. “Either you get that I’m not jumping you for your status, or don’t get on my case about taking your word on the pictures.”
He pushed out his jaw, but she refused to move. It was far more serious than she’d ever imagined she might be with him. Part of her was stuck in a moment of disbelief to find herself actually there.
Was she having a relationship?
Because it sure felt like it.
And that scared her.
“I’m here because I couldn’t blow you off, Kate.”
Oh shit. She was getting into a relationship.
“It scares me too.”
He was reading the emotions on her face.
“Sorry. I don’t mean to be…well…” She had no clue what she really wanted to say. Syon opened his arms and came toward her. He slid his hand along her cheek, sending little ripples of delight through her. Only these ripples touched her heart. It was more than sexual pleasure; this was heart deep.
“I didn’t mean to get involved either.”
“Yeah.”
It was a simple reply, but one that fit. His eyes were full of need, the need to be understood. She slowly smiled.
“I’ll get dressed.”
His expression became sensual. She backed up, her hips swaying. “Sit right over there”—she pointed at a chair—“and wait for me. Or we won’t be going anywhere.”
Ordering him around gave her a heady sensation, but the wolfish smile he flashed her made her shiver.
Oh yeah.
The guy made her shiver.
And she’d so gotten in over her head.
* * *
“Kate!”
Ramsey called out to her over the mass of bodies on the dance floor. He was wearing only a leather vest with his pants, the front of it open to show off his pierced nipple with its stud bar.
“I love what you do when you get in my pants!”
The girls rubbing against him reacted instantly. Some of them laughed; others shot her dagger looks as they made it clear the singer was theirs. He pulled one closer by her hips, leaning down to whisper something in her ear. It was a sensual picture. One that sent a zip of heat through her, if she were honest enough to admit it.
“Like I said, Rams is a cat. He likes to prowl.”
Syon turned her around and caught her up against him. People were crowding close, the loud music sinking into them until the only thing to do was move to the beat.
“Let him. It’s fun to watch,” she said.
Syon’s expression turned sensual. He cupped her cheeks, moving her backward into the mass of dancing bodies; the situation had a vibe that was slightly savage. There was a glint in his eyes that told her he wanted to put her on display. A bolt of awareness shot through her, unleashing a wildness she’d never found the right place to let loose before.
“He’s watching you now.”
Sensation prickled on her nape. They were surrounded by a crowd of sweating people, more skin on display than anything else.
But she could have sworn she felt Ramsey watching her exclusively.
“Do you like it when he watches me?”
It was a horrible thing to say. A nasty thing. Something polite people didn’t say.
But so true, so freeing to say.
And she wasn’t interested in hiding behind the facade of correctness.
Syon leaned over, his breath hitting her ear as he used his bigger body to dance her back another few steps. Her insides were tightening with anticipation, waiting for that first contact with Ramsey.
“Yeah. I like it when he watches you,” Syon rasped against her neck before he raised his head and captured her gaze. “I like watching you getting turned on by the idea.”
The music was pounding around them, the dance floor crowded. It was Syon’s beat too. She lifted her head, raising her arms up to dance, working her hips in a rhythm that was deeply intimate. He pushed the mass back, keeping a spot open for her. Somehow, he had a drink in his hand, and he took a long sip and leaned down to transfer some of it into her mouth. There was the tangy taste of dirty martini and the bite of the alcohol. It stung just the right amount as Syon kissed his way across her jaw before delivering a bite to her neck.